Tretinoin 0,25%

[ACandleOnAGinBottle]

I have just got myself Tretinoin 0.25% from Spain. It's a 30g tube and it cost EUR16.

Is this the right strength to get started with?

0.025%, I hope, that's the lowest strength available but be cautious regardless. Build up use slowly, start at 2-3x a week and be vigilant about using a standalone SPF50 in the right amount and top up every two hours of prolonged outdoor exposure.

I've been on it for 18 months and I'm on 0.05%. That seems very high are you sure it's not 0.025?

You need to be cautious about tret as too much can damage your skin. You also shouldn't use it if your TTC.

There's a reason it's prescription only. If you bought it online are you sure it's tret.?

I bought it in Spain at a pharmacy. Here's a photo of the tube.

That says 0,25mg/g which is 0.025%

0.25mg/g is 0.025%, it's fine.

Ah brilliant so I've got the right product?!

I’d be very wary of how you use it.There’s a good reason why Tretinoin and other actives are prescription only in most countries; misguided use (too much, too strong, for too long, in the wrong places, wrongly mixed with other actives, used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, when suffering certain medical conditions…etc) can have repercussions. It’s always preferable to have it professionally prescribed and mixed with other high quality ingredients to get the results you want based on your particular skin concerns. My friend’s daughter bought some Tret whilst on holiday last year and used far too much which really wasn’t a great idea as her skin reacted badly. Now she gets it from Monderma and is happy (if you’re in the UK?). Skin & Me also offer this service.

For me, it takes around 3-4ish per tube of 20gms online. So here is my routine that I follow to use tret and keep my skin normal:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
la roche posay spf
Evening:
la roche posay moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

You'll be fine. I started on that strength and never had any bad effects apart from the tiniest bit of peeling. Just start slowly, like 3 times a week, and gradually increase when you've sussed how your skin tolerates it. You can also apply moisturiser first and then the tret to begin with, if you find it a bit strong.
I think that if you can generally handle actives like vitamin c etc, you won't have any issues.

Don't forget the daily spf 50 though.

Be mindful of buying creams from overseas companies without a prescription via bank transfer and PayPal. There are accounts on Reddit of people being sent estradiol instead of tret. You also can't be sure what's in an unregulated tube.

It's not worth risking over £20-25. Skin+Me, Monderma, Dermatica and UK brands are regulated pharmacies to sell it for a reason. Undoubtedly you will be fine but I would not risk it unless the extra £10 or so is significant.

Best of luck with it. 0.025% is the most standard strength and a highly effective anti-wrinkle mechanism.

There are handful of reputed brands only which provides without a prescription and I get it from them. Yes I agree there are many selling wrong products.

I just ordered some from dermatica at £24 on subscription- but I’ll be buying my next lot in Spain! Was it behind the counter? Eg did you ask for it?
😊

No Tret is not OTC in spain

I’ve moved on to the 1mg from the 0.5 and my face hasn’t been affected at all no redness or soreness. I bought both strengths and was a bit worried re the 1 but it’s been fine

i only wear it every 3-4 days though

if it does affect you in any way stop using it till your skin calms down completely then try it again

I’d never wear it daily

I’ve been using retinol / Tret etc for about 10 years and have wrinkles yet

No wrinkles yet